Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-01
MIR. CLOVER'S GIFT.
The Thanksgiving It Made in the
Deacon's House.


Two smiling middle-aged faces
looked at one another across the libra
~ table. Mr.. Glover was recounting
to his wife the prospects OF success
that had opened in h6 business this
fall. '.Yes, my DEAR he said. ave
must do something unusual by way of
n Thanksgiving Offering this year.
What shall it be?''
How much shall it be? first" said
Mrs. Clover.
We'll. say a thousand; we can spare
it as we'll as not"
81 know what I'd like to do-have
the church re-frescoed and some new
carpets put in. That stained ceiling
and that worn path up the center aisle
do distress me-"
Every thing in Mrs. Ciover's house
was fresh and shining. Her eyes were
spoiled at home for shabby things
abroad.
'.Well. I'd like to beautify the
church." said Mr.. Clover. I'll speak
10 some of the committee after prayer
meeting and tell them what we pro-
pose"
Twill they let us?"
LET us? Well. guess So"
'.And let us have some choice about
colors and carpets. l hOpe?'
.Oh. you'll see: you'll have it all
your own way"
Mrs Clover looked bcaming. In
fact. two very happy people went to
prayer-meeting that night.
Mice folks" said Ebenezer Grist.
the sexton. as he saw them pass up the
aisle; .'but sop,ctimes there's a lcetle
of the strut and crow about 'em,
tOo!'
Indeed. good Mr.. Glover was that
minute medi,a.ing little ThankSgiv-
ing speech in the meeting. which per-
haps might have had the echo of the
.'crow" only too audible in it for cap
tious ears.
But the speech never was made; for
he had not been five minutes in meet
ing before there came some words out
to pull his heart right down from its
place of jubilation and stick it full Of
thorns. A shadow fell over his ruddy
face. and his wife. who did not in the
least understand it. Immediately re-
Elected it in her own.
The words which had this unhappy
effect were these:
Therefore. if thou bring thy gift to
the altar. and there rememberest that
thy brother hath aught against thee.
leave there thy gift before the altar:
and go thy way; first be reconciled to
thy brother. and then come and offer
thy gift"
And there sat. across the aisle.
nearer the door. but still within reach
of every uneasy side glance. a brother
who had something against Mr.. Clover.
1t was only poor old Deacon Simon.
His face was thin and severe; his hands
shook; his hair was white; his clothes
We're shabby. He had been made dea-
con because of his burning zeal; but
the severity of his spirit had not made
him popular in the church. He was
often at odds with his brethren. He
scented heresy in every breeze. He
mourned over a church whose men,
bers sometimes allowed dancing and
card-paying in their homes. and even
took drives on the Sabbath. Poor
Deacon Simon. who often stood alone
testifying for old WAYS of righteous
ness. and whose sensitive spirit was
so rasped by the Indifference with
viii ch his testimony was received!
Only last month he had objected to
a children's October Sunday where
there should be autumn leaves and
kindred frivolities brought into
church. Then Brother Clover, who
looked SO good-natured. but had
choleric temper of his own
upon occasions had fired up and
spoken has,y words to the good dea-
con. words as rude rs a blow. They
had been received in silence; they had
never been apologizcd for; there had
been little intercourse between the
two men since.
II won't apologize. said Mr..
Clover now to himself Il told him
the truth. and nothing else would
have stopped his talk, and served our
turn"
Elf thy brother hath aught against
thee hummed the unwelcoms words
in his mind